Scherzer, Tigers blank Astros in mistake-filled series opener

Astros-Tigers: May 5-8

DETROIT — Gather round your Little Leaguers and hear the fables from the final three innings of the Astros’ 2-0 loss to the Tigers.

Don’t take your eye off the ball when it’s being thrown to you. Don’t break for second base on a ball in the dirt late in the game if you don’t think you can make it standing up and you don’t represent the tying run.

The Astros littered the final third of Monday night’s game with mistakes — some of the mental, some of them physical — in a game that so clearly showed what separates the best in the American League from the worst.

Max Scherzer, the reigning American League Cy Young winner, was on the mound for the Tigers, and he did what you’d expect: eight innings, no runs, nine strikeouts. But righty Jarred Cosart, whose future might be brighter than any pitcher the Astros have, was able to match him until the bottom of the seventh inning.

“You know it’s going to be a low-scoring game, or you hope,” Cosart said of the matchup. “So you’re going to go out there and try and match what he does, and I think for the most part I did.”

The Astros made one of their signature terrible plays almost exactly a year ago Monday at this same stadium, Comerica Park. Second baseman Jose Altuve and right fielder Jimmy Paredes collided in shallow right-center field, and Altuve ended up with a partially dislocated jaw.

Marc Krauss’ play at first base in the seventh inning Monday would have easily fit last year’s blooper reel.

In a scoreless game, the Tigers’ Nick Castellanos hit a grounder to third to start the frame. Matt Dominguez made a fine throw across the diamond to Krauss at first base, but Krauss simply didn’t catch it.

“I think I just took my eye off it a little too soon and it never stuck to my glove,” Krauss said. “It’s a bad time for an error like that, leading off an inning. Cosie’s pitching such a great game. … I feel terrible. Cost him another chance with a victory today.”

The Astros have made at least one error in six straight games.

Three batters later, Tigers No. 9 hitter Rajai Davis ripped a breaking ball Cosart left over the middle of the plate past a drawn-in infield. That scored Castellanos as an unearned run from third with one out.

Cosart escaped further damage with a double play, ending his night with seven innings and 100 pitches. He’s allowed just four runs in his last three starts, good for a 1.83 ERA in a 19 2/3-inning span, but has no wins to show for it.

The Tigers came in sizzling hot, having scored at least eight runs in three straight games. Cosart held them to just four hits and three walks.

“I think everyone in the locker room wants to win,” Cosart said of the frustration.

The eighth inning was no better for the Astros. A strike-‘em-out, throw-‘em-out double play got Scherzer out of a jam with a flourish.

Marwin Gonzalez was caught at third base when Altuve went down swinging with a full count on Scherzer’s final pitch for out No. 3.

It’s not a universal rule that runners are put in motion on 3-2, but there’s no one the Astros who’s a safer bet to put the ball in play than Altuve.

“We had some chances to execute,” manager Bo Porter said. “The error hurt us. Obviously the 3-2 pitch there, not putting the ball in play … in a run-and-hit situation. And don’t take anything away from their guy.”

Astros reliever Anthony Bass, who grew up going to Tigers game, allowed a home run to Victor Martinez in the bottom of the eighth to put the Tigers up 2-0.

Even when the Astros had a chance in the ninth inning, they took themselves out of it.

Dexter Fowler drew a seven-pitch walk to start the inning against Joe Nathan. On an 0-2 pitch to the next batter, Fowler broke for second on a ball in the dirt and was thrown out on a close play. The Astros challenged, to no avail.

Bottom line: Porter said Fowler shouldn’t have run.

“You got to be able to make it standing up,” Porter said. “Your run really doesn’t mean anything. You need another guy to get on base. You’re down by two.”

Said Fowler: “I broke when it hit the ground. So he picked it and made a good throw and the guy at short made a hell of a play too.”

Tigers catcher Alex Avila threw out three runners in all.

To add insult to a bad night, the pitcher the Astros traded for Fowler, the Rockies’ Jordan Lyles, threw eight innings of two-run ball against the Rangers. His ERA is 2.62.